Triathlon - Help fitting a Cervelo P2C for a big dude

So as luck would have it, shortly after resolving to race my first Tri in the spring and get serious about TT's, I came into some extra cash that I'll be using to do up a TT/Tri bike.

My road bike is a Pinarello F4:13, size 57. The top tube measurement is 57.5cm, and I run a 110mm stem. I'm very happy with the fit of that bike.

The Tri bike I'm looking at is the Cervelo P2C. I'm a big fanboy of Competitive Cyclist and am planning to buy from them, so I used their TT fit calculator to size the Cervelo. As it turns out, the recommended top tube length for me places me at a 61cm Cervelo frame.

I couldn't find anywhere how the sizing is done on Cervelo's TT bikes, so I'm not sure how concerned I should be. FWIW, I'm 6'2 with a 36in/91cm inseam....

Thoughts? Experiences from similarly-sized people?

Here's a pic of me on my 58cm Cannondale CAAD8 too... 110cm stem. Identical sizing to my Pinarello.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p85/dr_pete177/pklegs.jpg

In the drops on the Pinarello:

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p85/dr_pete177/pkumd.jpg

Sorry I'm not familiar with Cervelo. If you want really good advice, I'd suggest you post your question on the forum at slowtwitch.com. It's the most popular online source of news and questions/comments for triathletes. Lots of fit experts, Cervelo lovers (including Cervelo-cofounder Gerald Vroomen), and pro athletes have posted messages there.

Good luck. Didn't know you were interested in tri.

Well, I think there's some difference in the measurement technique between the standard CC fit calculator and the TT version. I re-did the measurements just to be sure, and it now places me on a 56cm Cervelo based on recommended top tube length... That makes a lot more sense in terms of top tube etc...

Well, I think there's some difference in the measurement technique between the standard CC fit calculator and the TT version. I re-did the measurements just to be sure, and it now places me on a 56cm Cervelo based on recommended top tube length... That makes a lot more sense in terms of top tube etc...

Yeah, I was about to say .. a size 61 P2C for a 6'2" height?
Anyway, I'm 6'1" and i did buy my size 56 P2C from competitive cyclist as well. I used their fit calculator which was very impressive and thorough (although nothing beats a personal fit, but i'm stationed overseas so its next to impossible.). I landed in the 56 since a tri bike geometry is different from the road bike geometry. I came off a 58cm Trek which is similar to your situation.
The fit is great and it only took me a week of riding to dial it all in. I do run a 70mm stem which some people might say its entirely too short, but I think I have a short torso. It's the most comfortable for me, since trying a 90mm stem caused my arms to be too stretched out.

Here's a pic, it's not a very good one, but its the only one i had that was take on the side with me tucked in. hope it gives you an idea of what a 6 foot or so person would be on a 56 P2C.

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm215/jerseyboyyeah/ad76.jpg

Yeah, I was about to say .. a size 61 P2C for a 6'2" height?
Anyway, I'm 6'1" and i did buy my size 56 P2C from competitive cyclist as well. I used their fit calculator which was very impressive and thorough (although nothing beats a personal fit, but i'm stationed overseas so its next to impossible.). I landed in the 56 since a tri bike geometry is different from the road bike geometry. I came off a 58cm Trek which is similar to your situation.
The fit is great and it only took me a week of riding to dial it all in. I do run a 70mm stem which some people might say its entirely too short, but I think I have a short torso. It's the most comfortable for me, since trying a 90mm stem caused my arms to be too stretched out.

Here's a pic, it's not a very good one, but its the only one i had that was take on the side with me tucked in. hope it gives you an idea of what a 6 foot or so person would be on a 56 P2C.

(pic snipped)

Thanks SO much. That actually did a lot to ease my worries. I'm looking at the 56 with a 90mm stem based on their calculator...

Gotta love the military discount from Competitive Cyclist too...

(I'm Army, stationed in DC).

DrPete, how did it go? I'm in a similar situation. I'm 6'1 and would love to buy the P2C Ultegra. Ready to pull the trigger and can't seem to find one to fit. I've ridden a 56 and a 58. One felt too small, the other too stretched out, not sure how that is possible since there should be overlap? I would love to know how the 56 feels to you, and what your cycling inseam is if you don't mind sharing. I have long legs and arms, but a torso a tad on the short side, which I've heard may not be ideal for the P2C.

For anyone on the 56 P2C, especially if you are 6' or taller, do the bars feel small to you? If I go 56, I feel sure I will need a wider base bar, longer extensions, and new cranks (standard on P2C are 172.5, competitive cyclist tells me I need 177.5 for TT)

Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated, please forgive the slight hijack :)

(Edit: Oops, just read the original post and saw your inseam is a 36. I'm 35.5. When I was fit on the 56 I had to put the saddle in the 75 degree slot, though I would prefer the 78. I felt pretty squished on the 56, but that may have been due to my long arms and wider shoulders coupled with the stock components. I would love to hear your real feedback)

DrPete, how did it go? I'm in a similar situation. I'm 6'1 and would love to buy the P2C Ultegra. Ready to pull the trigger and can't seem to find one to fit. I've ridden a 56 and a 58. One felt too small, the other too stretched out, not sure how that is possible since there should be overlap? I would love to know how the 56 feels to you, and what your cycling inseam is if you don't mind sharing. I have long legs and arms, but a torso a tad on the short side, which I've heard may not be ideal for the P2C.

For anyone on the 56 P2C, especially if you are 6' or taller, do the bars feel small to you? If I go 56, I feel sure I will need a wider base bar, longer extensions, and new cranks (standard on P2C are 172.5, competitive cyclist tells me I need 177.5 for TT)

Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated, please forgive the slight hijack :)

(Edit: Oops, just read the original post and saw your inseam is a 36. I'm 35.5. When I was fit on the 56 I had to put the saddle in the 75 degree slot, though I would prefer the 78. I felt pretty squished on the 56, but that may have been due to my long arms and wider shoulders coupled with the stock components. I would love to hear your real feedback)

So I owe a lot to Andy at Competitive Cyclist for getting me all dialed in...

I sent him my measurements from the calculator, told him about my not-so-great hamstring flexibility, and the fact that I wanted to keep the seat tube at 78 so I could stay more aero. After very politely dealing with my reluctance, he recommended the 58. So with some hesitation I ordered the 58.

The bike got here and I was a little worried, because the first thing I had to do was saw down the seatpost to get the height just right. After I did that, I saw that the guys at CC had built the bike with 30mm of spacers on the steerer. This is a "big" frame, I thought, so I dropped the stem down low.

On the first ride, I felt like the top tube length was perfect. Andy had been totally right. He had told me that a 56 would put the bars way too low for me, and guess what--removing the spacers put the bars so low my knees hit my elbows as I was riding. Back to the 30mm spacer stack I went.

With the 78 degree seat tube, I was able to get my back nice and flat, and find a good aero position, without feeling any stress in my lower back. The only thing I'm going to change is getting some longer extensions for the aerobars. The pads hit mid-forearm and act as a fulcrum--my weight pushes down at my elbows and forces me to death-grip the aerobars.

So I went with the 58, and Kudos to Competitive Cyclist, who was able to fit me over the internet/phone to a TT bike better than most shops around here could have. I can't recommend them highly enough.

Here's a pic of my current setup--I don't have a pic of me on the bike yet, but it doesn't look too wildly out of alignment...

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p85/dr_pete177/DSC00292.jpg

Great looking ride DrPete! If you ever get a picture of yourself on the bike please post it. I've got to make up my mind so I can buy one of these before the great price hike of '09!

Another sale for Cervelo. Looks good.

I wanted to add that if there are people out there are are too tall for standard frames, I know Leonard Zinn, the tech writer for VeloNews, specializes in building custom frames, including TT frames, for the very tall- http://www.zinncycles.com/. Just something to keep in mind if you can't find the right frame.

Here's a pic of my current setup--I don't have a pic of me on the bike yet, but it doesn't look too wildly out of alignment...

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p85/dr_pete177/DSC00292.jpg

Hey, Dr. Pete,

How are you liking the Arundel Chrono? I use their bottle cages on my road bike, and thinking about putting one on my P2C too, and going with the Aquacell up front on the aeorbars.

Hey, Dr. Pete,

How are you liking the Arundel Chrono? I use their bottle cages on my road bike, and thinking about putting one on my P2C too, and going with the Aquacell up front on the aeorbars.

The bottle itself works great. My only gripe is it's a bit of a long reach to grab it, but I'm getting more used to that. Can't really consider that much of a compaint...

Update--I finally have a few pics of me on the bike, for anyone who's interested. Suggestions for improvement are welcome...

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p85/dr_pete177/DSC00298.jpg
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p85/dr_pete177/DSC00299.jpg
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p85/dr_pete177/DSC00300.jpg
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p85/dr_pete177/DSC00301.jpg

Dr. Pete,

How are you liking those aerobars? I'm on the cusp of snagging a P2C-ultegra, but not crazy about the bars. Seems like my elbows hit 3 inches or more behind the pads, and I may need to swap them out for some t2 s-bends or something. Just wondering, how have they felt since you've been riding?

Dr. Pete,

How are you liking those aerobars? I'm on the cusp of snagging a P2C-ultegra, but not crazy about the bars. Seems like my elbows hit 3 inches or more behind the pads, and I may need to swap them out for some t2 s-bends or something. Just wondering, how have they felt since you've been riding?

Honestly I don't think I've been riding aerobars long enough to have a preference. My P2C isn't a stock model, though--I had it built with SRAM Force, Reynolds wheels, and Oval Concepts cockpit by Competitive Cyclist. So the aerobars I have are not the stock version.

I do like the Oval stuff so far, though. I'm installing some longer extensions to accomodate my longish arms, but in terms of adjustability and comfort I think they're great.

Nice...I don't think I can go the custom route, looking to do the silver and black I think. I'm no expert either, the aerobars on my current tri/roadie are custom made to handle my wingspan. I had just noticed in the pic that your elbows looked a wee bit behind the pads, and that is the issue I had when trying the P2C in my size as well. I'll be swapping those puppies out. Great looking bike and congrats, ride it til the wheels come off!

Plainsman,

Take a good look at the stock. Some come with the Vision base bar and the Vision aero bars. Others come with a Profile Designs bar and T2+ aerobars. The T2+ are "S" bends, the Vision more like "J" bends and the Profile base bar that came on mine, had zero aero benefits. It was an airwing (not carbon). I made them replace it to the Vision alloy basebar that should have been spec'd, and I put on my Hed aerobars with the new Lazy S bend extension. The shop wasn't happy because they had to pull the cable runs all over again.

I now have mine where I want it.

Another option that I'm contemplating is using the T2+ extensions on my Oval Concepts bars. From elbow to palm my arm measures 14.5 inches, so most of the extensions on the market are too short. Even the Oval S-bends are only 300mm long. The good news is that the 22.2mm outer diameter seems to be something of a universal standard and the extensions are interchangeable.

Glad I didn't shell out for a fancy carbon cockpit until I could play with some different configurations, that's for sure.

http://forums.cervelo.com/forums/5.aspx

ask there... differing sizing on different models

Another option that I'm contemplating is using the T2+ extensions on my Oval Concepts bars. From elbow to palm my arm measures 14.5 inches, so most of the extensions on the market are too short. Even the Oval S-bends are only 300mm long. The good news is that the 22.2mm outer diameter seems to be something of a universal standard and the extensions are interchangeable.

Glad I didn't shell out for a fancy carbon cockpit until I could play with some different configurations, that's for sure.

Dr.Pete,

Please keep me in your research loop. I broke down (:)) and bought the 56cm P2C today. I think I've mentioned that in a couple of posts, sorry, very excited! In any case, the medium (270mm) Vision Tech ski bends that came on my bike are way short. I'm contemplating the T2 as well, but I have zero experience with an S-bend. I like that the pad can sit a bit behind the base bar, which seems to offer some flexibility. My first shorty bars were ski, as were my custom bars (cheap,no cable routing though). I'm doing up to 1/2 iron distance now, and hope for full next season, so comfort is a real consideration for me.

My elbow to center of palm (grasped cylinder) measures a tad past 15". If you find something that works well please pass it along, and I'll do the same.

P.S. that 22.2mm thing only seems to hold true for oval and profile. If you find another that fits there please let me know.

Thanks senatorw, mine came with the full VisionTech cockpit. I'm very happy with the base bar, and the Vision extensions are nice, just not long enough for the ape-man. Likely to be E-bay bound.